A capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to mean head-to-toe neutrals or playing it safe. In fact, adding a few well-chosen prints can bring your whole wardrobe to life—lifting simple silhouettes, adding personality, and opening up endless outfit combinations without buying more.
At Turtledove London, print has always been part of our design DNA. Not loud. Not trend-driven. But intentional, contemporary and crafted to stay relevant season after season. Combined with our 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton fabrics and timeless shapes, prints become a subtle way to elevate your everyday wardrobe, while still keeping things easy and effortless.
Here’s how to create a capsule wardrobe with prints—without overthinking a thing.
1. Start With a Foundation of Neutrals
A print-led capsule works best when you build on a base of staples: blacks, oatmeals, stone, browns, deep greens. These give your prints room to shine and make mixing simple.
Think of neutrals as the glue that holds everything together. They soften bolder pieces, make layering more fluid, and ensure your printed items never overpower your outfit. A pair of black trousers, a simple tee, a neutral knit, or a classic dungaree shape instantly becomes the grounding piece for any print.
Once you have this foundation, prints slip in naturally—and feel wearable, not overwhelming.
The Elsie Stripe Tee Looks great against a neutral purple hue, our Quinn Dress.
2. Choose Prints That Feel Like “You”
The key to print confidence is choosing designs that reflect your personality and your lifestyle. Turtledove prints are created with longevity in mind—modern, minimal, and easy to style across seasons.
When selecting prints for your capsule, look for:
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Timeless shapes: stripes, abstract forms, soft geometric repeats like our Madga Dress Blizzard
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Versatile colour palettes: blacks, greens, reds, browns, monochromes. Our Nel Animal Print Sweat paired with our Kit animal print trouser is a great set to start with,
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Balance: something expressive, but not so bold that it limits your styling options. Our Cow Print Jumpsuit is a great piece which feels like a statement, yet easy to style and pair with a capsule wardrobe favourite.
Prints that feel good to wear will always be the ones you reach for again and again.
3. Mix Prints Through Colour, Not Pattern
The easiest way to mix prints—without feeling like you’re doing too much—is to focus on colour harmony.
For example:
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A black-based print pairs beautifully with plain black trousers.
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A deep green print works alongside earthy brown layers.
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A soft red pattern can be balanced with a red accessory or a neutral layer.
When colours speak to each other, prints don’t clash—they complement.
If mixing two prints together feels too bold, try:
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A printed dress with a neutral layer
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A printed shirt with staple trousers
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Printed bottoms with a plain tee or knit
You get the personality of print, with the ease of a capsule wardrobe.
4. Let One Print Take the Lead
Prints work best when one piece is the focal point. Let it be the hero of the outfit.
For example, if you’re wearing a printed dress, keep the rest simple: clean coat, solid boots, minimal jewellery. If your trousers carry the pattern, pair them with a neutral shirt or oversized knit.
This approach keeps your look intentional, not busy—perfect for everyday dressing.
5. Choose Printed Pieces That Layer Well
To get the most out of a capsule wardrobe, versatility is everything. Printed pieces that layer easily will work across seasons, occasions and moods.
Look for:
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Printed shirts you can wear open, buttoned, or layered under dungarees
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Printed dresses that work with tights, boots, trainers or sandals
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Print-led tops that pair with your year-round trousers
A print should never be a one-outfit item. It should offer multiple looks with minimal effort.
6. Build Slowly, Choose Thoughtfully
A capsule wardrobe is never about buying lots—it’s about building intentionally. The right print can elevate your style for years, not just a season.
Every Turtledove print is designed to move with you—from school runs to dinner plans, from work days to slow weekends. They’re made for mixing, matching and loving long-term.
When you choose pieces crafted from organic cotton, produced in ethically approved factories, and designed for every age, you’re choosing clothes that last—and prints that feel good in every way.
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